The Iddy Biddy Bunny Barn rabbitry is somewhat unique because I keep my Hollands inside at a controlled temperature between 58° and 72° year round. I use full spectrum lighting between 12 and 16 hours a day as well as 1 HEPA air purifier, two floor exhaust fans and two air conditioners in the the summer, running 24 hours a day, to keep their environment as clean and healthy as possible. I've also found that the products "Sweet PDZ & Zapsit" in conjunction with inexpensive cat litter, are helpful in keeping the air fresher and lower in ammonia fumes.

We clean the drop pans every other day, to keep the area smelling fresh, as well. Having your rabbitry inside and climate controlled has numerous advantages, but does require extensive work to keep it fresh.

We use ceramic crocks for our rabbits and clean them with chlorox and water daily before refilling with fresh water. We make our own version of an acid pack type mixture by using acidophilus, vitamin/electrolytes and apple cider vinegar and mixing with their water.

We use Buckeye 16% rabbit pellets, and after trying numerous other brands, find them to be the most consistent and fresh in quality. Freshness, I feel, is the most important factor in palatability for the rabbits. If they are not fresh, the do not eat them. We feed them between 1/3 and 1/2 cup feed a day, depending on the individual rabbit's appetite. Some do not finish 1/3 cup. A couple of wiry, pacing bucks eat nearly a cup a day. If they have feed remaining at the end of the day, it's cleaned out and replaced with fresh. They are individuals and have individual needs and personalities, as well as good and bad days.

We love all our rabbits, and treat them with respect for the hard work they perform for us, both on the show table and in the breeding program. We all work as a team to make up the Iddy Biddy Bunny Barn. I love the rabbit hobby and am proud of all my rabbits. I try and protect them from judges and individuals that don't share our respect for our animals, and hope that we can do something to contribute to eliminating that type of exposure at shows. Everyone is entitled to their own feelings about how to treat and use their animals, children, belongings, but when it comes to the handling of our precious charges, we feel that is our choice and duty to protect them.

Back in 1964 the original Holland Lop was created by Adriann Van de Cock of Tilburg, Holland. He developed them with a combination of small French Lops, Netherland Dwarfs, Dutch and English Lops. These small lop eared rabbits were brought to the United States by Aleck Brooks III in 1975, who went on to become the founder of the Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club. At that time he imported three Holland Lops. A pair of tortoiseshell colored and a sable point. It took five more years for the American Rabbit Breeders Assn. to accept the breed which had been referred to as the Dwarf Lop, as the "Holland Lop". The maximum weight for the Holland is 4 pounds with the ideal weight of 3 pounds. Hollands make extraordinary pets because of their size and excellent temperament.